This week my guest is author Karen DeMers Dowdall, who has a special gift that she rarely talks about. The ability to sense spirits is both complex and little understood, but Karen shares some of her experiences.

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My Sixth Sense by Karen DeMers Dowdall

Some people are born with the talent to play the piano without a single lesson, others are born to sing with a perfect pitch, still others have a gift for mathematics, none of those gifts was I gifted with at all. I was born with an unusual gift, a very unusual sixth sense.

Starting at the age of 9 years old, I realized that I saw things and heard things that other people didn’t hear or see. It seemed normal to me at the time, but as time went on, I began to realize that it was not normal at all.

The first time it happened, it was about four o’clock in the morning, not too long before sunrise. I was awakened by something. I sat up and I saw someone in my bedroom that I instantly knew was not a living person. It was a ghost. Easy to tell the difference – I could see through her.

From time to time, I would see wandering spirits, but I was never frightened. I have always had a strong belief in God and thought, oh well, so this is my gift? Really? What am I supposed to do? I am only 9 years old. How do I help this spirit? All I did was smile. She vanished before dawn.

A few weeks later, as I sat up in bed, waiting for my mother to come and kiss me goodnight as she always did, I saw someone walking out of the attic door, or rather I saw her walk through the attic door. This person looked as real as you and me, except she floated a few inches off the floor. She was from an earlier time period that I now know as the colonial era In New England.

She glanced at me once and continued walking to the window then she walked right through it. I never saw her again. Over the years, I did continue to see these wandering spirits from time to time. I have known people with the same gift, and it is always nice to share experiences.

Years later, I was told by my Aunty Eva that she too had experienced the same thing, as well as my French Grandmother. I then supposed it was a part of my family genetics, lucky me, I thought.

However, the one amazing thing about being sensitive to my environment is that it helped to save my life on more than one occasion, and that made me very grateful for this gift.

Karen Demers Dowdall PhD, MSN, BSN, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and spent her elementary-grade school years in the small farming community of Salmon Brook, settled in 1680 by a stalwart group of Europeans. She grew up exploring its lush and dark forest preserve, swimming in Salmon Brook with a plethora of the unexplained, exploring Rock Fall Caves, and ice-skating on a “haunted” pond in winter.

Karen has traveled abroad and lived in the Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, and England. Living overseas opened to her, a vista of cultures, historical vistas, and led her to believe that all cultures have storytellers that reveal all their hopes and dreams through vivid fantasy fictions, poetry, short stories, and dramatic written presentations throughout their culture history.

Karen has always written poems and short stories, and now has three novels that represent fantasy, coming of age, and a dark mystery. Her latest novel The Captain’s Witch will be available in September 2019.

Garett’s Bones, a tale of deep friendship, developing feelings, mystery and magic. A young girl goes missing and the two best friends set out to find her which leads to them unlocking the doors to a spiritual adventure filled with romance, magic, desperation, and mystery.

Karen DeMers Dowdall, does a marvelous job of showing us the surroundings while maintaining a steady pace. Her descriptions of the enchanting forest through the eyes of Anna was decorated with a skilled selection of words that, I think, most Authors or seasoned readers could appreciate. Saying that however, this is not to be mistaken as a book excessively showered with painful words that would have you reading more of the dictionary than the book itself and I know some people love that sort of writing, I don’t, as I find it destroys my reading momentum. I admire Katherine’s ability to articulate the simple everyday words and use them beyond their common uses in a fresh way to define feelings and scenery.

I found story compelling and I truly loved Garrett and Anna’s characters. I connected with Anna, reminding me of myself, who often relied on grandma’s words of wisdom and Garretts access to native American lore which portrayed him to be wise beyond his years. I wondered how the spirits would play their part in the story but it all came together well. The transition of hidden feelings and the situations formed to dig deep and bring them to the surface was written, I would say, with the hand of experience.

I remember whilst reading one chapter I blurted out, “no, don’t do it Garrett!” and everyone present responded with a stare as if I suddenly sprouted chicken wings before they burst into laughter. I always say if a book can get you to respond to the characters to a degree where you are speaking out aloud then the characters were very well developed. The connection to the disturbance in the spirit realm and Anna’s mother’s happiness among other things will have you thinking.

The ending was very touching. The author really knows how to put her full weight and take a swing from one side of the Earth to the other on your heart strings. The book was an excellent page turner and a quick read that will keep you entertained. I give it a 5/5

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About Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

My name is Sally Cronin and I am doing what I love.. Writing. Books, short stories, Haiku and blog posts. My previous jobs are only relevant in as much as they have gifted me with a wonderful filing cabinet of memories and experiences which are very useful when putting pen to paper. I move between non-fiction health books and posts and fairy stories, romance and humour. I love variety which is why I called my blog Smorgasbord Invitation and you will find a wide range of subjects. You can find the whole story here.
Find out more at https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/about-me/

Oooh, this piece has given me chills. I am not sure if I would like to see a ghost although I do like to write about them. Our house is supposed to be haunted by the spirits of a gang in the early 1900s who were killed in a shootout in our house. I have never seen anything though.

Thanks Robbie and yes.. happy to read about them rather than see them in my home.. We have declined to buy two houses however that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up alarmingly and the dog definitely did not like one of them…always a good sign.. hugs x

Seems cat ghosts existens too. A dog is sometimes busy enough with a live cat. What idea experiencing cat ghosts. Lol
What a wonderful and for me a little bit horrible story. I dont fear ghosts, but like it to know their name first. 😉 Michael

Robbie, thank you for your amazing comment…to be in a home where killings occurred ….wow. I would surely be connected with them in a ghostly way. I also have other paranormal “gifts”? But, I am never afraid. I welcome them, they are so lonely. It makes them happy and sometimes they stay. I don’t mind at all.

Robbie, yes, I actually edited it for Professor Charles F. French. Maledicus is a complex and fascinating story and yes, I have encountered a few ghosts that were not good people when alive and they don’t change too much after death, although some do. Robbie, the first time I saw ghosts/spirits at 9 years old, my bedroom was filled with ghosts that first time, and they were from many different time periods. I was thrilled to meet all of them. However, my twin sister, Lauren, was scared and hid under our blankets. Not me, I was never scared, even with the dangerous ones. I have other gifts that counterbalance the troubled ghosts. Sometimes, not now, but often, my house is filled with ghosts and other entities – elementals. Elementals just want to talk in their language. Very funny sometimes. I will do a post one day soon, maybe, and tell many stories and about my other gifts as well. OMG, everyone will be so surprised or actually unbelieving.

Liz, are you sure you would like to know more? I have other “gifts” as well. I am very paranormal :). I will do a post and discuss it and then everyone will think I am a paranormal witch – but I hope not. It is difficult for some people or many to comprehend, but I was born this way (but my identical twin was not at all – it scares her). So, I accept these “gifts” as normal. I do closedown when it becomes overwhelming. We will have to talk sometime soon. Karen Anna.

Liz, thank you for believing that these gifts are of a spiritual nature, because they are very spiritual. I really am just a conduit and nothing more. Years ago, I closed the door, the pathway to much of what I use to receive. will explain in my post when I do discuss it. Thank you so much. Karen Anna

Fascinating stuff, Karen. I’m intrigued to learn more about your unique ability. I’m going to assume you’ve written about this before. Has this been the subject of any of your books? Thanks, Sally, for this interesting feature of your blog.

Peter, sorry to reply so late, but I have been in Canada these last 10 days visiting relatives. I do have many more “gifts” and no I have never written about them at all in regards to me. People are often scared by it or non-believers. I do write paranormal novels – all of them are paranormal in someway. I will do a post about my “gifts” sometime soon, however, often, people who have lost loved ones or just want a reading about their present situation or future or past (I do it all) and much more. Karen Anna

I firmly believe we humans all have some sort of sixth sense if we are open to it. I have read that there is a part of our brain we seldom use that has to do with instinct, possibly ancient in nature which we no longer depend upon. Perhaps the so-called sixth sense stems from that part of the brain.

That is what they say Lyn.. and practice makes perfect but I think we lost that instinct when we settled into communities and were not looking over our shoulders the whole time. And today we have other technical systems to do the job for us.. I think that is why play is so important for children as it is for all young animals.. it develops skills that we have lost. xx

Lyn, yes, many people do have a sixth sense, but honestly many don’t and I don’t know why. They have blocked it out of fear or simply doubt their gift of a sixth sense. I have more than a sixth sense, much more. I do have a very strong paranormal ability. I was born this way, but my identical twin doesn’t have any paranormal ability. It is genetic, I believe. Thank you for your comment. Karen Anna

Wow, this is an amazing gift Karen. My bestie who lives in UK has that same gift! She’s lived in and renovated homes hundreds of centuries old and has come across quite a few ghosts on those properties. She knows when people have died there and helps to free some of those spirits to help them crossover. ❤ xx

It is amazing isn’t it to find people who still are in touch with that instinct and ability. I am sure there must be a genetic element to it.. ancestral memory passed on through the generations. Fascinating..xx♥

Wow…she has a very strong gift indeed. She is amazing! I did help a few spirits, but I don’t know if they passed over and if they did, I don’t know where they went. Some go to a new life, some sleep for centuries, some go to whatever religion they believe in strongly. There is always forgiveness – no matter what. None of us are perfect. You also have a gift that is much more than a sixth sense and it is pretty amazing. Karen Anna

Carol, thank you so much, and yes, I have never been frightened by spirits, but I have been frightened by elementals, as they come in many different forms. Some are friendly and some are not at all. Overall, though, I have rarely been harmed by them. Karen Anna

It is amazing how many people have shared that they do Marje.. perhaps it is also something to do with being creative. A part of the brain that sees the world in a broader sense including the areas normally hidden…xxx

Marje, we have talked, you and me, before, and you do have a gift as well. Also, if you chose to, you could also develop your gift to a greater degree, but there are pros and cons about that. I have never had to develop any gift…it is just a genetic abnormality, I sometimes think, but often I have been very grateful for these gifts for many reasons. Thank you for your comment, Marje – let’s talk more on The Sisters of the Fey, I will be doing a monthly or by monthly post there. Karen Anna

Marje, it is quite a story that I often find hard to believe myself, but when I write that post here as promised, I will explain. Please remember that I was just a conduit and nothing more. These gifts are very spiritual in their nature. Karen Anna 🙂

Jennie, I am not at all surprised for you to have seen a ghost and yes, most people will just not believe for whatever reason. You are very intuitive and intuitive people often are also paranormal and have gifts. Karen Anna

Jennie, thank so much. I am thinking about writing a post about my “gifts” which are plentiful. OMG. However, not all are easy to talk about, but soon I will lift the veil and talk about it. You may be very surprised and a little shocked. 🙂

I think you will be surprised that I won’t be shocked at all. When you’re ready to write, that might be a good thing. I for one will definitely be an eager reader. You are such a good writer, Karen, and full of insight.

Sally, thank you so much for this great series about human beings and their sixth sense. It brings these normal intuitive gifts out of the closet and they are for many people totally normal abilities and why not – because humans have many kinds of gifts. Karen Anna

Sally, yes, it was delightful to listen and learn the experiences of others and I think it was so important, because we don’t often have the opportunity to share experiences that are, well, different than many peoples experiences. Thank you for making this possible, and now I am going to follow through and later this week tell my friends and others (oh dear), about my other gifts. OMG! Sally, thank you so very much.

Sally, thank you so much and I am so grateful for all your kindness and support to me, and to so many others. You are truly a godsend to writers and authors. You are much loved by all of us. Hugs too! XXXX